AMHERST — Amherst Regional High School was locked down Wednesday afternoon just as school was dismissed when office staff notified Principal Mark Jackson that two adults who entered the school signed out but did not leave the building.

Jackson said that meant that two adults without proper security clearance “had access to our children” at a time when students were leaving school. "That constitutes a threat, We tend to be conservative," Jackson said.

At that point, all students still inside the building were told to return to classrooms, which were then locked. Jackson said the students were secured within three minutes, and police were called to search for the two adults.

School staff identified both individuals and called the place where they work, getting their cell phone numbers and determining that they had left the building. That happened about the same time police finished checking the school. The school was reopened and the remaining students were allowed to leave.

School officials were able to find a bus to take the remaining 35 to 40 students who needed a ride home. The lockdown lasted for about 45 minutes.

Last week the, high school, middle school and Wildwood Elementary School went into lockdown for an hour after a person checked in but did not show up at the destination. Police have not yet charged that man.